Cell's Absorbing Ability

[GogetaSSJ2]

What if Cell absorbed Android #18 first before he absorbed Android #17? Would Cell completely took on a different looking 2nd form? In addition, would Cell have gained more power if he absorbed Super Vegeta or Super Trunks instead of the weaker Android #18?

[RandomGuy96]

I think- I THINK- that Cell can only absorb the twins, and that he wasn't absorbing those humans so much as he was literally eating them to reach his pre-time travel power.

Doesn't explain the plethora of other powers that he doesn't use to instantly win, though...

[Duo]

Of course he would have appeared different if he took in #18 first. He basically has #17's face (plus giant ugly stupid lips) after he absorbs him, and notes the tremendous speed boost that #17 gave him. I figure he would have taken on a much more feminine appearance and received less of a power up in general since #18 was suppressed in comparison to #17.

Would Cell have gained more power if he absorbed Super Vegeta or Super Trunks instead of the weaker Android #18?

There are (unknown) specifics about the Artificial Humans' physiology that makes them able to power Cell up so much. Also, I'm pretty sure that Vegeta would have just blown him up from the inside. Wouldn't that have been an AWESOME scene?

[TheMightyOzaru]

I would imagine he would become more effeminate had he absorbed 18 first.

[Gonstead]

No, nothing would have changed.

Cell also needs the androids to unlock his transformation because that is how they were designed to be put together. He can't simply keep absorbing and absorbing to reach those transformations.

[GogetaSSJ2]

Still I wonder what Cell's feminine 2nd form would have looked liked.....since one of #17's strengths is speed, what would #18's powers be? Higher intellect?

[Gonstead]

I highly doubt anything would have changed in his physical appearance whether he absorbed one android or another.

If you really want to imagine Cell like that, just imagine him a much more feminine appearance with curves, a slimmer waist, larger thighs and smaller feet.

And Boobs.

[GogetaSSJ2]

I highly doubt anything would have changed in his physical appearance whether he absorbed one android or another.

If you really want to imagine Cell like that, just imagine him a much more feminine appearance with curves, a slimmer waist, larger thighs and smaller feet.

And Boobs.

....uuuhh on second thought, I think the 2nd form Cell we did get isn't so bad

[Duo]

Just imagine a small-bodied, sleek design. He takes on some of #18 traits when he becomes complete. He gets smaller and his face looks like hers (mostly in the early artwork of that stage).

No, nothing would have changed.

How do you know that?

[Son_Gohan]

Android 17 wasn't a bearer of considerable size and muscle as with your typical fighter-type. After getting absorbed, Cell's form becomes bulkier as a result. So it wouldn't appear to have any influence on his outward appearance, for that reason he'd probably look exactly the same had he absorbed Android 18 first.

[Darkprince410]

I've always wondered though if they were necessarily transformations dependent on which of the two were absorbed, or if Gero had designed Cell to take those forms no matter which is which; that absorbing one of the Jinzou-ningen would result in his bulky, second form, and then absorbing the other would result in his Perfect form. I say this because even though Cell does take on appearances that are a bit more matching them when he transforms (his eyes in his second form, etc), #17 and #18 have near identical frames.

Even though he's a guy, #17's frame is slim like his sister's, so I question how much of Cell's large, bulky appearance in his second form was a result of absorbing him specifically as opposed to just a set transformation simply triggered by one absorption.

[alakazam^]

Remember that #17 and #18 are twins so they're basically the same. Cell's forms probably wouldn't change had he absorbed #18 first. We can be certain that his Perfect form would be the same because (#17+#18) is the same as (#18-#17) and he stops having a tail.

[Kamiccolo9]

Was it the Androids, specifically, Cell needed, or just their infinite energy reactors? If that's the case, maybe his Semi-Perfect and Perfect forms were already designed to look that way, and it wouldn't matter which he absorbed first. Also, if both 17 and 18 possess unlimited energy, then 17 is only stronger because he can release more of it at a time. Cell shouldn't be any weaker if he absorbed 18 first, because both androids possess the same amount of energy.

[alakazam^]

Was it the Androids, specifically, Cell needed, or just their infinite energy reactors? If that's the case, maybe his Semi-Perfect and Perfect forms were already designed to look that way, and it wouldn't matter which he absorbed first. Also, if both 17 and 18 possess unlimited energy, then 17 is only stronger because he can release more of it at a time. Cell shouldn't be any weaker if he absorbed 18 first, because both androids possess the same amount of energy.

They don't have unlimited energy, they stay in full power at all times (whether that's 5 or 530.000). Also, #18 is stated as weaker than #17.

[Bussani]

They don't have unlimited energy, they stay in full power at all times (whether that's 5 or 530.000).

I get what you're saying, but energy that doesn't run out is technically unlimited energy. Heck, even the manga itself calls them infinite energy reactors.

[Kroni_Hunter]

This is how I would imagine him to look.

[Kamiccolo9]

Was it the Androids, specifically, Cell needed, or just their infinite energy reactors? If that's the case, maybe his Semi-Perfect and Perfect forms were already designed to look that way, and it wouldn't matter which he absorbed first. Also, if both 17 and 18 possess unlimited energy, then 17 is only stronger because he can release more of it at a time. Cell shouldn't be any weaker if he absorbed 18 first, because both androids possess the same amount of energy.

They don't have unlimited energy, they stay in full power at all times (whether that's 5 or 530.000). Also, #18 is stated as weaker than #17.

I get that 18 is weaker, but it's not because she has less energy, but because she can't utilize as much/as efficiently as 17. I feel like Cell's power wouldn't change depending on which he absorbs first because, either way, he's getting the same amount of energy.

[Benjaminsweaton]

If any of you watched GT, like I did, you'd know that when Dr. Gero and that other android guy got together, they opened a portal to Gell, and inevitably trapped Goku in hell to fight Freeza and Cell. Cell absorbs him BUT only for a SECOND, and he tastes Goku's power. Then Goku escapes. So if Cell had originally absorbed Trunks and Vegeta he WOULD have gotten their power, but in that time he wasn't thinking of that, only absorbing 18 and 17, and when he did, he didn't need any more power. He was already the strongest in the universe.

[rereboy]

I get that 18 is weaker, but it's not because she has less energy, but because she can't utilize as much/as efficiently as 17. I feel like Cell's power wouldn't change depending on which he absorbs first because, either way, he's getting the same amount of energy.

[mAcChaos]

He takes on some personality traits of the androids too.

When he absorbs #17, he becomes brash and cocky.

When he absorbs #18, he basically acts the same way #18 did against Vegeta when fighting him. Acting coy, letting Vegeta build himself up only to get completely humiliated, etc.

So maybe the reason Perfect Cell starts acting dumb later on is because it was the androids all along that were stupid.